Convertible cot and camp chair



Sept. 8, 1953 H. H. BEARDSLEY CONVERTIBLE COT AND CAMP CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13 1949 INVENTOR. HAROLDHBEARQSLEY .AT'TORNE'Y p 8, 1953 H. H. BEARDSLEY 2,651,352

CONVERTIBLE COT AND CAMP CHAIR Filed Jan. 13 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HARULD HBEARDSLEY BY ATTORNEY tion and extra section.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 CONVERTIBLE COT AND CAMP CHAIR Harold H. Beardsley, Denver, 0010. Application January 13, 1949, Serial N 0. 70,651

Claims. (01. 155-47) This invention relates. to new and useful immovements in folding or knock-down furniture, and more particularly to a bed or cot which can be easily converted into a chair or couch, or vice versa and can be readily knocked down or folded into a compact bundle for storage and transportation.

An important object of the invention is to provide furniture of the above type which has its body supporting part composed simply of a pair of side rails and a body supporting strip or sheet of flexible material stretched between them and secured in a novel manner which also provides for the quick attachment and detachment of detachable supporting legs for storage purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel leg structure for the furniture which can be easily adjusted to tension the supporting strip as desired; it being a further'object to provide legs of such length and proportion that with the two-part type, the legs of the occupant may rest on the ground without discomfort.

A further object of the invention is to provide the bed structure with a component for converting it into a chair with a back which can be held upright or in reclining positions with one relation of said component, or in a further reclining couch-like position by adjusting said component to a different relation to said back.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide one form of the structure with an extra section to provide standard length for the cot to thereby support the lower limbs and feet of a person and to serve as 'a cover or sun shade when the structure is serving as a chair.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the foilowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the description and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the L several views;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of the invention shown set up as a cot or bed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the same.

Fig. 2a is a side elevation of one of the detachable legs looking in the direction of the'arrows, 2a2a of Fig. 2, with a side rail removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the other side of the structure and showing the invention converted into a couch with'a slightly reclined back or head portion and with the extra sectionbeing used as a head cover.

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary to plan view taken in the region of the joint between the back secrails of the back portion Fig. 3b is a fragmentary plan viewof the outer end portion of the extra section.

Fig. 3c is an edge view of the outer or free end of the extra section.

Fig. lis an elevation of a part of one of the side showing the folded position of a component leg thereof.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the invention converted into a chair with the back and extra section thereof in an upright position shown in full lines and also shown in dotted lines in a reclining position.

Fig. 6 is a slightly enlarged side elevation of the hinged joint between the two larger sections of the body supporting part of the bed or cot.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section of the foot of the leg showing the for holding the legs in adjusted positions to tension the body sheet.

Fig. 8 is a top plan of the ratchet of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section of one of the side rails of the invention showing the means for attaching the body supporting sheet thereto and. for detachably connecting the legs to the rails.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the entire invention knocked down and rolled or wrapped into compact form for storage and transportation.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of another form of the present invention shown set up as a cot or bed.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the form shown in Fig. 11 and showing the structure converted into a couch with a slightly reclined back or head portion; and

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the form of struc ture shown in Figs. 11 and 12, with the back section slightly inclined rearwardly to provide a comfortable chair.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 through 10 of the drawings for further particulars of one form of the invention,the numeral l3 designates a back frame portion composed solely of a pair of side rails or bars I! of wood hingedly connected by hinge links [3a to corresponding bars of a seat frame portion ill. The free ends of the bars of both the seat and back portions may be curved or contoured slightly for greater body comfort, see also Figs. 11, 12 and 13. A single strip 23 of flexible material, such as canvas or the like, forms the sole body supporting element extending the entire length of the seat and back portions I 0 and I3 and is secured to the side bars I! thereof as shown in Fig. 9 by wrapping the longitudinal margins of the strip 23 around the bars and securing these margins thereto by a series of angle irons [8 with their pawl and ratchet arrangement it attached to the .0111V6d head send these three pairs of legs lightness.

throu h th s. too to ad ust Th s sa fo t i4 2 re e posits s de of t e ot hat on l l! o the pa r i secured to the bases secured to the bottoms of the bars I! with rivets or screws IS. The bases of the angle members l8 firmly clamp the edges of the strip 23 against the bottoms of the bars and the rivets, as shown merely by way of example, penetrate the fabric strip or metallic eyes therein and anchor in the bars, as is clear from Fig. 9. The upright flanges of these angle members [8 are each provided with a pair of horizontally spaced apertures 20 and extend vertically in spaced relationship to the inner vertical sideof its respective side bar 11 wherever a leg l4, -15 or IE is attached to a side bar. A pair of legs IB are attached to the curved foot ends of the side bars I! of the seat frame it, and another pair of legs I is attached to the same bars 'beneath the links 13a to support the inner end of the seat frame, while a third pair of legs Id of the bars of the back frame 13, as shown. {tech leg of [4, i5, and LE consists preferably of an aluminum casting for The upper end o ea h ts is ened out in Y1hfl5 and. p ovided with a pair of outwa dly x endin ho s or rounded P .iections 14a to be detacbabl ens-a e in the pair of apertures 2 1} of the vertital flange of each angle member I8, one such aperture being shown in Fig. 9, of the drawings. Each leg is inclined inwardly and downwardly toward the longitudinal center line of the body supportng she t 3 as best. se n in F 2 nd its lower end is provided with an integral foot piece It?) .(see Fig. '7) having a square opening or socket wliichextends transversely of the cot or chair when the leg is associated'therewith. The pairs of legs [4, l5 and I6 are arranged apposite each ther at opposite sides of th n so hat the foot nieces 4b of ea pai at less a i i nment transv r e y of the cot wher b a a of transverse wood n trips orbs-r 3 nd 22 t be inserted through h ali ne t eet o t espective pair of less, Th lee at one s de of the set is s ur d to e st ip 22 t m re her with and thi st ip s p ovid d with a ra ch plat 2 5 with wh ch a spr p e sed a l 25, mou ted n t e foo Hi a th op osi s of the cot, cooperates, as the strip 22 is slid he tautnes 0f the fabric st ip and s' ecu ed to the ip r a 2! which l de alongside of the strip or bar 22 and through the openin n t e foot o th ee at t e Thus, it will be seen strip 22, so that as the legs are moved away from each other, the strips 2! will be moved in 0pposed d rectio s to ca e wl to slide over th atch t p ate lock in its teeth when the desired tautness of the strip 23 is reached. When it is desired to mo e the air of less ard n another, h pawl 36 is pressed to release it from the ratchet tee h hat the ut r o k fo me between the strips 2! The legs are u nd. 22 i r l a e braced by braces 24 secured by screws to the strip which is secured to the foot of that respective leg. A fourth pair of legs H consisting merely gt a pair of bars are pivotally connected at thiii upper ends at Ho to the bars of the back frame 13 adjacent the legs Hi, to swing down tron; their folded position parallel with t e bet Qt the am t. to he incli ed e sit en B w 1 F 3 t g-age the ground and support the back frame 25 n ut m ti these legs in such conversion of chain 21 secured to the intermediate portion shown in Fig. 4,

H3 in the inclined couch position. When so positioned, a rod 12 with one end bent and extended through each leg H as a pivot, is swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 to an acute angle with respect to the leg ll so that its free hooked end may be engaged in the eye of a loop I2 extended from the bottom of each rail of the frame I33 to securely retain the legs H in their couch forming positions until released. These legs H and rods l2 are also employed to hold the back frame IS in the more upright position shown in Fig. 5 when it is desired to convert the cot into a chair. Cooperating with is a short length of each side bar of the seat frame it so that any of their links can he engaged with the hooks of the rods [2 for holding the back of the chair at any desired s n ularity to the seat. When the conversion into a chair or couch is made, the pair of legs 44 is, of course, left attached to the back frame 13 to adjust the fabric sheet 23 of N e back frame to the desired tautness for the most comfort. any converted form of the cot or chair, any pair or pairs of the legs can be relatively adjusted to tighten or loosen the body supporting sheet of fabric 23 to the cornfort of the user at the portion desired.

t i e ira f r unu ual ta pers ns t have s iiicient s pno r the owe l b an ee purpose, the outer end of back section 13, is pro- Video with a i r hou h s o r extension section 3% having pivotally mounted adjacentits outer end, short legsfii. "The side rail members of section 39 are maintained in spaced relationship to hold the canvas 23 taut by a removable spacer or stretcher bar 32 see especially Fig. 3b. The extension or auxiliary section 59 i5 nivotally connected to section 3 by means of binge links 36a. When the device is being used as a cot, section 30 extends outwardly beyond bac $8;- tion 53 and is supported in substantiall horizontalposition by its swingable legs 3 l.

Section'38 also serves as a weather shield for th h ad o e occupan when the devic is e n used in its form as illustrated in Fig. 3 er the draw ngs.

By virtu f the t ct tha sectio 39 is soo- .ne ed t c on t by the l s sect n i may be swung into position to overlie section 13 when the device is arranged as a straight-back chair or an inclined-back chair, as indicated in full lines and in broken lines, respectively, in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

When it is desired to store or transport the invention, it can be collapsed or knocked down by simply lifting the pawls 25 and sliding the legs M, l5 and [5 toward their complementary legs in the respective pairs to loosen the supportin sheet 23 so that the projections Ma of the legs can be disconnected from their respective angle members l8 and each leg with its attached strip 2 l ped t o th so ke i e e mentary foot. The legs 31 of extension or auxiliary section 30 are swung from their position of Fig. l to their position of Fig; 3 and section 30 is folded upon back section is, whereupon the seat framelll can be folded upon the back frame 13 and auxiliary frame 39 and the individual legs, with or without their respective strips 2 or 22 and braces 24 attached or unattached, can be bundled together and wrapped or rolled up in the sheet 23 which has fastening straps 23 on its underside to be used in wrapping around the bunbraces 24 attached to the legs. lengthwise of said two portions and secured to the W h particular reference to Figs- 1 12 and side rails thereof and across said hinge, legs of respects as that of the preceding Views, e C D a cot, a pair of additional legs pivoted to the rails cot and Ca p C a Which s a Seat portion, rods pivoted to said additional legs and hooked to c i or frame and a a section H3, the the rails of the back portion to brace said additwo being connected together by links I Ilia. The 15 tional o in inclined positions I I5 and H6 and the back section has a pair of Said addition legs H4. Back section H3 also carries a pair pivoted to a of legs III in the form of a pair of bars which for Said Seat p are pivotally connected at their upper ends at position forming a reclining back ortion. 2. A combination cot and chair comprising a curely retain the legs III in their couch forming positions until released. The legs III and rods mc-lmed posltlons and rods and legs bemg I I2 are also employed to hold the back frame I I3 in the more upright position shown in Fig. 13 when it is desired to convert the cot or couch into ortion in incline relation t re a chair. Cooperating with these legs in such conp d W h Spect to Sam seat portion to convert into a chair.

seat frame Illl so that any of their linkscan be 01mm fm an auxmary frame Sectlon 1s cot and to provide a weather shield for the struclegs may be relativelyt g g g g tuge rz o n i l i ri a ti oii ia and chair according to loosen the body suppor ing s ee of a ric o the comfort of the user at the portion desired. clalm Wherem an auxlltary portlon 1s hmgedly above in connection with the collapsing of the and feet of an occupant when the device is used form of the present invention which is illustrated as a in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive. The canvas or other HAROLD BEARDSLEY- fabric sheet or covering 23 has fastening straps I29 which are similar to and used for the same References Cited m the file of this patent purpose as straps 29 of Figs. 1 through 10. UNITED STATES PATENTS From the foregoing description, it will be ap- Number Name Date parent that a simple, cheap, comfortable and 3 3,773 st t May 24 1387 durable piece of camp or conversion furniture 3 7 4 McKeeVer 1905 has been provided which can be easily tr n 1,263,509 Zendt Apr 23:1918 ported, set up, knocked dow and adjusted to 5 1,300,872 Purcell Apr. 15 1919 suit the comfort of the most discrimina i 1,306,102 Chittim June 10 1919 Various changes in the size, shape and relation- 1,413,901 c Apr 1922 ship of the parts can be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention. FOREIGN PATENTS I claim: Number Country D t 1. A combination cot and chair comprising a 07,414 Australia May 11, 1939 pair of frames, each composed of a pair of side 439,960 Great Britain Dec. 18, 1935 

